THE ROCK OF AGES    
     We are familiar with the song Rock of Ages.  The lyrics read, "Rock of Ages, cleft for me; Let me hide myself in Thee.."  I thought about these words in light of recent news events, and how Scripture relates to them.  Again sin has reared its ugly head with the news of the Boy Scouts of America deciding to lift the ban of homosexual leaders and members of the scouting program.
     I'm sure there are many who will hail this as a huge step forward and yet through ignorance the consequences are being pushed aside as inconsequential.  But the consequences are far reaching.  It is these consequences that tie us to the words, "Rock of Ages, cleft for me."  These words are directly linked to the foundations upon which our life should be based as well as the standard by which all men will be judged.
     The psalmist states, "In the Lord put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to the mountain?" (Ps. 11:1)  It is the rationale of man to simply say this is life and there is nothing we can do about it.  So if the foundations be destroyed (vs. 3) what can the righteous do?  The righteous must do what the psalmist has proclaimed.  Put your trust in the Lord, for He is the foundation.
     In verse 4, the psalmist brings it home to the mind of those who told him to run, "The Lord is in His holy temple."  From where the Lord sits He sees all and from His throne issues the judgments of life.  Many will say there is nothing we can do, but the truth of the matter is we must put our trust in God and stand on His foundation.  The Lord's countenance beholds the righteous (vs. 7).
     This thought is also brought home to us in Paul's words to Timothy (2 Tim. 2:19).  Concerning the sin of Hymenaeus and Philetus, Paul says in spite of such false teaching the foundation of God standeth sure.  Furthermore there is the seal of this foundation, "The Lord knows those who are His."  So if you name the name of Christ, i.e. if you stand truly on the firm foundation of God's truth, you must depart from iniquity.
     One principle taught by Jesus that must be remembered is found in Matthew 12:30, "he that is not with Me is against Me.."  Either we stand with God in all things or we do not stand with Him at all.  For this reason we must stand on the firm foundation of truth without wavering.
     The world at large is seeking to destroy the foundations of God but they will one day have to stand before Him.  The Lord is still in His holy temple, and we must keep silent before him (Hab. 2:20).  When we do we can speak those words, "Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee."  Rodger